Calem's Alola Adventure

Chapter 23

By: Gandire Alea

Calem and Lana enter Tapu Village on the last day of the festival. Calem looks around at all the gathered trainers and frowns. A heaviness fills his words as he says, "This place is packed." Unlike the first day, hardly any trainers battle one another. The excitement from back then now mixes with anticipation and restlessness. It reminds him of himself back when he first stood outside the entrance to victory road.

Lana tugs on Calem's arm and points at a stand labeled guests of honor. "Isn't that the pokemon league chairman?"

Calem's frown deepens upon seeing the short man talking with Serena. Anabel and a tanned, long haired Professor Oak stand to the side. No, the eye structure is different. That's someone else. Bitterness enters his tone as returns his attention to the chairman. "So, that's him…"

Lana notices the frustration lacing Calem's words and tries to distract him from it. "I wonder if they're discussing the Ultra Beasts? Whatever it is, it looks serious."

"Maybe, I think Serena just said helicopter and Ten Carat Hill."

Lana looks at Calem in shock. "You can read lips?"

"Not really… I can pick up a few of the words she's saying, but that's it. Your two sisters will probably be able to do the same in a few years. Well, whatever they're talking about, we can just ask later."

"You're right. In that case, how about going to the haunted house. This is a festival, let's enjoy it." At the front of the line is Hau with each arm wrapped around a different girl. "Maybe we should come back later… How about the fortune teller?"

The fortune teller looks over two of their pokemon. She then turns to the Calem and Lana upon finishing and gives them their fortunes. To Calem, "Your future is yours for the taking. You'll face a lot of hardship, but keep at it and don't be afraid to ask for help. Your enemies today can become your allies tomorrow."

To Lana, "You will have a choice to make. Neither will be easy and both will make you doubt yourself. Whichever one you do pick, stay with it or you'll only end up with regret."

The next place they visit is a hair styling competition. Stylists from all four islands gathered to show their skills at who can satisfy their customer fastest. Lana runs her fingers through her hair and tugs on the tips that reach just past her shoulders. "I have been meaning to shape it for a while now… I'll be just a minute."

Calem says after her, "I'll get us a bite to eat." He returns with some malasada and finds that while her bangs haven't changed, the back flows together to form a small tail.

Lana twirls the tip with her fingers and with a bashful smile says, "What do you think?"

Her sisters tackle her from her sides before Calem can answer. "Sissy, sissy, we found you!" One breaks away and calls, "We found Lana, we found Lana!" Lana's grandfather cuts through the crowd and clasps Calem's shoulder, "Good to see you again. Have you been well? My granddaughters told me a funny story after you left." He chuckles and adds, "They said you're Grace's son. Silly girls."

A pair of arms wrap around Calem's shoulders from behind. His mother says, "Guilty as charged. Calem's my one and precious son."

Lana's grandfather gasps and backs away upon seeing Grace. He stumbles with his words a few times before grabbing Calem's arms and saying, "Lana is a very beautiful girl and strong pokemon trainer. She's extremely kind and always considerate of others. Girls like her are very rare catches! I've take it upon myself to watch over her as her grandfather, but you've proven to be a good, sturdy lad. You have my permission to take Lana as your wife!"

Calem's mom chuckles and says, "Calem, aren't you a bit young to be getting married? You should wait a few more years before making such a decision. Then again, my circumstances don't make me one to talk…"

Lana, getting absorbed into the moment, holds her cheeks and turns to the side. Her face is a bright red, but her tone is clear. "Calem, I'm still young and don't really understand what marriage means, but I promise to do my very best. So please make me happy."

Lana's twins hold hands and sing as they twirl around Lana. "Sissy's getting married, sissy's getting married!"

Calem looks at everyone and shrugs. He keeps a straight face, but still needs a moment to find his voice. "Can- Can we get back to this conversation in a few years?"

Lana grabs Calem's arm within her own and drags him away while humming to herself. "Very well, I'm perfectly fine with that. I still have a lot to learn before I can properly even consider such a topic."

Calem and Lana gather at the entrance to Mount Lanakila along with every other trainer in the festival at midnight. Everyone wishing to participate in the first Alola Pokemon League has 24 hours to scale the mountain. "Every obstacle along the way is another chance for you to deepen your bonds with your pokemon, yeah. At the top of the mountain will be a competition to select the number one trainer of Alola. That trainer will then do to battle against the Elite Four and become the First Alola Champion, woo!" Professor Kukui finishes his speech at midnight on the dot. "Go!"

Lana gives Calem a smile as she gets ready to run ahead. His solemn expression, however, makes her stop. She tugs his sleeve to get his attention and as Calem turns to face her, she rises up to kiss his cheek. "I'll see you at the top. Be careful."

Calem runs his fingers across his cheek as he watches her run off. That wasn't my first kiss… He reminds himself of the fact a few times, but he keeps recognizing the kiss as such. He takes a deep breath and looks to the front of the group rushing towards the mountain side. Hau is in the front. Ilima catches up to him and challenges him to a battle. The first of many to come considering the number of gathered trainers.

"No hurry?" Serena says from behind Calem.

"Whether I'm the first one up there or the 100th, it doesn't really matter… That sounds strange coming from a pokemon racer."

Serena giggles, "It does, it really does."

"You climbing too?"

"Professor Kukui said it would boost morale. Mind if I join you?"

Calem smiles, "Don't slow me down."

"Only if you refrain from getting in my way." As they start walking, Serena grins, "So, how were your swim lessons? Were they fun? Did you end up needed anymore CPR?"

"Well, I won't drown anymore."

Calem and Serena reach the top of Mount Lanakila by sunrise. The climb was so easy, they even took a detour so Calem could retrieve the Icium Z. As they look down from the top, Serena says, "Not a single person challenged us. All those trainers we came across were utterly spineless. None of them are worthy of even taking part in this competition."

Calem glances ahead and spots Hau approaching them. "Calem, Serena, I was wondering when you two would catch up. Climbing up here was, like, the fastest I've ever moved in my life. I was climbing with some girls, but they had to drop out leaving me as the first one here. But that's not what I came here to tell you! Calem, we've had a ton of battles on the way here! Before going any further, how about a match to see if you're ready for this this? Show me your full force and try to beat me and my team. You'll need that much if your serious abou-"

"Pass."

"…league- wait, what?"

Serena cover her mouth to giggle at Hau's shock.

Calem says, "The first Alolan Pokemon League champion. If you ask me, that title should go to someone from Alola."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, you're from Alola now, too! You have every single right to the title. But beside all that, what makes you so sure you'd beat me?"

"I suppose you have a point, but I'm not interested. I want to do something else."

Serena says, "Those are the exact same words you said to me." She then gestures to the Pokemon League building. "Perhaps we should continue this inside?"

Hau walks ahead with a sigh, "Fine, whatever." As Calem and Serena follow after him, someone calls out to them. "Wait for me! I'm here, too!" Mahina, having reached the summit, waves her hand as she runs up to them.

The inside is a large hollowed out chamber within Mount Lanakila. Four arenas make a square within the center of the chamber. Running along the edge of the place and along the mountain's walls are stands for observers.

…..

Calem enters the VIP observation deck, a sealed and catered chamber carved from within the mountainside, as the 20th and 21st matches begin. Out of the 224 trainers that showed up to participate in the pokemon league, only 27 reached the summit. To lower the numbers further, a round robin style elimination match is being hosted. Each trainer is allowed to use any 2 of their pokemon during each match. The eight with the best scores will be allowed to participate in the final competition. The winner of the final competition will earn the right to challenge the Elite Four.

A guard to clasps Calem's shoulder. The guard says, "You're not allowed up here."

Calem yanks his shoulder free. He grabs Mawile's premier ball and says, "I'm on the list."

Ilima steps forward as the guard grabs a pokeball. Ilima calls out Smeargle and says, "You're nothing more than a rude, self-entitled trainer. You are not welcomed here."

"Stop, stop, stop, stop!" Serena hurries forward and cuts her arm between Calem and the others. "Calem is with me. I invited him."

Ilima says, "Lying and standing up for such trainers is beneath you, Serena." He turns away with a glare at Calem and walks towards Mallow.

Lana joins Calem and Serena as they walk further into the room. Serena sighs and says, "Calem, why are you here?"

Calem looks around while saying, "Have you seen the chairman?"

Lana recalls his tone from the other day as she says, "You want to speak with him?"

Serena narrows her eyes, "Why exactly do you want to speak with him?"

Calem finds the chairman watching the battles below from the window with Professor Kukui. He ignores the two girls and approaches him. His tone is cold, "League Chairman." Once he has his attention, "What is the League's future plans for Kalos?"

The chairman spares Calem a glance to say, "Kalos is an abandoned territory. My decision stands." He turns away from Calem and returns his attention to the matches below.

Serena says to Calem as he rejoins them, "That is all you wanted to know? There is nothing else you want to do?"

"Nothing with the chairman. Anyway, Lana, you're third match is soon, right? Good luck."

Lana smiles, "My next opponent is Hau."

The trainers left for the final competition include Hau, Mahina, Ilima, Lana, Kahili, Mina, Hapu, and Mallow. As Hau and Mahina begin the first match, Calem asks Acerola, "Why didn't you participate?"

Acerola smiles, "There was no need." Before anyone can inquire further, her smile bursts to envelop her face. She giggles while saying, "You'll see."

Once Hapu and Mallow begin their match, Serena says, "Hapu is the Poni Island Kahuna, correct? Should she not already be part of the Elite Four?"

Acerola says, "Everyone else feels she's still too new. This competition, for her, is to prove her worth as a member of the Elite Four."

The first round ends with Mahina, Lana, Kahili, and Hapu as the victors. Moving on from the second round are Mahina and Kahili. The tournament concludes with Mahina defeating Kahili.

Professor Kukui steps out onto into the middle of the stage and says, "Mahina, as the winner, will now face the Elite Four. Kahili, as runner up, will now be granted the position as the fourth and final member of the Elite Four."

Acerola says, "Well, that's my cue. I'll see all of you in a bit."

Spot lights shine upward to reveal the underside of a suspended platform connected to the mountainside by five stone bridges. A hologram appears in the center of the arena hall depicting the platform's top. That platform above everyone is the true entrance into the Alola Pokemon League. Professor Kukui is seen through the hologram walking into the center of the platform where he says, "The first League challenge will begin in two hours, yeah. Every, please make sure to return before then, woo!"

Calem glances at the Elite Four chamber entrances. "An Elite Four…"

Lana, the only one to overhear him, says, "The Elite Four?"

Calem glances towards Serena, "Just something I thought of… But, a Pokemon League is more than just its champion."

Lana stares at Calem's face as she ponders his words, but turns away the moment Mallow calls out to her.

Once the two hours end, Mahina returns to challenge the Elite Four. Her first opponent is Kahuna Hala. Her second match is against Kahuna Olivia. The third battle is against, "Acerola?"

Mahina's shock is displayed for everyone to see on the hologram projector in the center of the room.

Acerola twirls around and says, "Hiya! Acerola here, bringing an old royal touch to the Pokemon League!"

Mahina says, "But, what about Kahuna Nanu?"

Acerola says, "Uncle Nanu said maybe he can't refuse a tapu choosing him to serve as Kahuna… but he'd be darned if he had to serve as one of the Elite Four just because some guy asked him! Instead, he nominated me! I guess that means I'll just have to battle hard enough to live up to his expectations!"

The fourth challenge is a rematch against Kahili. Once Kahili is defeated, Mahina returns to the center of the platform to find a teleportation panel. Stepping on it takes her to the final area, the champion's chamber.

A staircase leads her up to a wide space with a throne at the other end. Just as Mahina makes herself comfortable, Professor Kukui appears.

Professor Kukui starts by saying, "Oh yeah, now you're the Pokemon League Champion!" but admits that she still needs to battle him.

Calem says, "He totally pulled strings so he could fight who ever became the champion. Perks of being the head organizer, I suppose…"

The battle ends in Mahina's victory. Serena says while clapping, "Mahina completed the entire match without using Zygarde or Necrozma. Using only four pokemon, I cannot think of anyone more worthy than her for the title of the First Alola Pokemon League Champion."

"Should we consider this your blessing?"

Serena elbows Calem. As he winces, she says, "Oh, soyez silencieux."

About one hour later, Calem finds himself in Iki Town attending a small party celebrating Mahina's success. He and Serena sit on one of the side benches watching Hau, Lillie, Professor Kukui and his wife, the town folks, the trial captains, Molayne, and the Kahuna enjoy themselves. Even Gladion shows up to watch from underneath a tree for a few moments. Calem points him out to Serena. They wave to him and he grins back and leave. Was he checking up on Lilly?

The evening's high light is when Kahunas Hala, Olivia, and Hapu along with the trial captains do their Z-dance on the stage. Hiding in the back ground next to a tree, Kahuna Nanu also does his Z-dance.

Serena says, "Who would have imagined all this happening? When we met again on the beach, I thought it was just a happy coincidence."

Calem says, "You know, it's strange. I'm glad we came to Alola, but for that to have happened, Kalos needed to fall. Everything that happened, the destruction of our homes, the friends we've lost… before I would have given anything to undo it."

Serena says, "Now that means never coming here. The others would have resolved the problems that arose, but I would regret not getting to know everybody."

Calem gives a dry chuckle. "Mahina could have probably taken care of everything on her own."

"Yes, she really could have."

As fireworks begin to go off, Lana and Hau walk up to Calem and Serena respectively for a dance. While Calem accepts the offer with a smile, Serena says, "Okay, but only as friends."

As the setting sun gives way to the moon and everyone watches the second round of fireworks, Lillie say to Calem, "It's amazing, isn't it? All these people here celebrating. Everyone looks so happy… The adults, the children… even the pokemon! It… it hasn't all been easy… but I'm really glad that I came to Alola! Getting to meet you, Calem… No, it wasn't just meeting you. It was traveling together with you. I'm so glad I got to be a part of the journey!"

Calem looks up at the stars, "We've really come a long way since then. Hard to imagine that it hasn't even been a month."

Lillie says, "Hey, Calem… It looks like the party is going to keep on going strong for some time still, wouldn't you say? Do you think… maybe…"

"If this is an invitation to leave, I am down."

Lillie's taken aback by Calem's comment. "You don't like parties?"

"I don't hate them, not anymore… I just tire of them really fast."

Lilly takes Calem's hand with a bashful smile and says, "Then let's go."

A/N: For those of you expecting a pokemon battle this chapter, tee hee. On that note, this chapter feels pretty solid as is. Don't worry, you'll be getting your battle next chapter. So, what did you think? Looks like Calna is actually starting to set sail, or is it? Maybe Calna is all some sort of elaborate setup to be sunk by Cally.

Leave some reviews,

-Gandire Alea